The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

O wicked wretch, thou hast done what hath never been
done by anybody,—­therefore from this day,
thou shalt remain a woman and she shall remain a man!’
At these words of his, all the Yakshas began to soften
Vaisravana for the sake of Sthunakarna repeatedly
saying, ‘Set a limit to thy curse!’ The
high-souled lord of the Yakshas then said unto all
these Yakshas that followed him, from desire of setting
a limit to his curse, these words, viz.,—­After
Sikhandin’s death, ye Yakshas, this one will
regain his own form! Therefore, let this high-souled
Yaksha Sthuna be freed from his anxiety! Having
said this, the illustrious and divine king of the Yakshas,
receiving due worship, departed with all his followers
who were capable of traversing a great distance within
the shortest space of time. And Sthuna, with
that curse pronounced on him, continued to live there.
And when the time came, Sikhandin without losing a
moment came unto that wanderer of the night.
And approaching his presence he said, It have come
to thee, O holy one!’ Sthuna then repeatedly
said unto him, ’I am pleased with thee!’
Indeed, beholding that prince return to him without
guile, Sthuna told Sikhandin everything that had happened.
Indeed, the Yaksha said, ’O son of a king, for
thee I have been cursed by Vaisravana. Go now,
and live happily amongst men as thou choosest.
Thy coming here and the arrival of Pulastya’s
son were, I think, both ordained from beforehand.
All this was incapable of being prevented!’

“Bhishma continued, ’Thus addressed by
the Kaksha, Sthuna, Sikhandin, O Bharata, came to
his city, filled with great joy. And he worshipped
with diverse scents and garlands of flower and costly
presents persons of the regenerate class, deities,
big trees and crossways. And Drupada, the ruler
of the Panchalas, along with his son Sikhandin whose
wishes had been crowned with success, and with also
his kinsmen, became exceedingly glad. And the
king then, O bull of Kuru’s race, gave his son,
Sikhandin, who had been a woman, as a pupil, O monarch,
to Drona. An prince Sikhandin obtained, along
with yourselves, the whole science of arms with its
four divisions. And (his brother) Dhrishtadyumna
of Prishata’s race also obtained the same.
Indeed, all this way represented unto me, O sire,
by the spies, disguised as idiots and as persons without
the senses of vision, and hearing whom I had set upon
Drupada. It is thus, O king, that that best of
Rathas. Sikhandin, the son of Drupada, having
first been born a female, subsequently became a person
of the other sex. And it was the eldest daughter
of the ruler of Kasi, celebrated by the name of Amva,
who was, O bull of Bharata’s race, born in Drupada’s
line as Sikhandin. If he approacheth me bow in
hand and desirous of fight, I will not look at him
even for a moment nor smite him, O thou of unfading
glory! Even—­this is my vow, known
over all the world, viz., that I will not, O
son of Kuru’s race, shoot weapons upon a woman,